MONROVIA, Liberia — The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has warned that salaries for October will be withheld from heads of ministries, agencies and commissions (MACs) and their comptrollers if they fail to submit third‑quarter financial reports by the Oct. 15 deadline.
In a circular dated Oct. 8, Comptroller and Accountant General Elwood T. Nettey said the directive enforces the 2009 Public Financial Management (PFM) Regulations and serves as a final reminder to entity heads, comptrollers and finance directors. Noncompliance, he noted, constitutes a “breach of financial discipline” under Section A.20 of the regulations, which permits sanctions including suspension and salary withholding.
“Let it be known that failure to submit your Quarter Three financial report will lead to the withholding of both the head of the entity and comptroller salary for the month of October 2025,” the circular reads.
Quarterly accounts, prepared in line with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), must be filed within 15 days after the end of each quarter with the Auditor‑General, the Minister of Finance and the Comptroller‑General. The third quarter ended Sept. 30, making Oct. 15 the statutory deadline.
Nettey linked the move to the government’s implementation of a General Auditing Commission recommendation following its audit of fiscal year 2024, calling the enforcement part of a broader effort to shore up discipline and transparency in public finances. He said he looks forward to the “fullest cooperation” of all entities as the administration works to “improve accountability, transparency, and public financial management governance across government.”
The warning ties personal remuneration to legal reporting obligations, signaling a tougher stance on late or incomplete submissions that can impede cash management, budget execution and audit readiness.
What’s next
- Reports for Q3 are due by Oct. 15 to the Auditor‑General, Minister of Finance and Comptroller‑General.
- MFDP indicated salaries for October will be withheld for entity heads and comptrollers who miss the deadline.
- The ministry urged strict adherence to IPSAS and the PFM Regulations.
In other MFDP news: three‑day strategy retreat in Margibi
The Finance Ministry will host a three‑day Strategic Planning Retreat in Margibi County this weekend under the theme “Transforming Priorities into Strategies: Pathway to Efficient Service Delivery.” The forum aims to refine the ministry’s long‑term strategy, vision and goals, align priorities to the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for 2025–2029, and integrate commitments under the AU’s Agenda 2063, ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Senior leadership, directors and technical staff will participate in intensive planning, evaluations and strategy sessions to guide MFDP’s work over the next five years.
